Eating peanuts during pregnancy might make kids allergic: Study

Mark Iype, Postmedia News10.31.2010

In a study released Monday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that infants aged three to 15 months with likely milk or egg allergies were more susceptible to peanut allergies if their mothers consumed peanuts during pregnancy.

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Infants prone to allergies may be at an increased risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts if their mothers consumed the nuts during pregnancy, according to U.S. researchers.

In a study released Monday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that infants aged three to 15 months with likely milk or egg allergies were more susceptible to peanut allergies if their mothers consumed peanuts during pregnancy.

The researcher evaluated 503 infants at five sites across the U.S. and found, based on blood tests, that 140 of them had a strong sensitivity to peanuts.

"Researchers in recent years have been uncertain about the role of peanut consumption during pregnancy on the risk of peanut allergy in infants," said lead researcher Dr. Scott Sicherer. "While our study does not definitively indicate that pregnant women should not eat peanut products during pregnancy, it highlights the need for further research in order make recommendations about dietary restrictions."

In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that women whose infants were at an increased risk of developing allergies based upon family history consider avoiding peanut products while pregnant and breast feeding. However, the recommendation was withdrawn in 2008 due to limited scientific evidence to support it.

Peanut allergies can be life-threatening and have accounted for several deaths in Canada over the years, according to Anaphylaxis Canada. The Canadian Paediatric Society advises parents and guardians to not give nuts to children until they are three years old.

Schools and other children's activities such as summer camps have banned peanuts in recent years as allergies to the nuts have become more prevalent.

While the researchers admit the study has limitations, Sicherer said the data "is an important step toward identifying preventive measures that, if verified, may help reduce the impact of peanut allergy."

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